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Taken from Ellwood City Ledger (Jul 12, 2020)
Genesis guitarist shares rock star stories
Steve Hackett has a new book coming out. The acclaimed guitarist for the band Genesis shares some tales ahead of time, including a take on his favorite Pittsburgh venue. Also in this week's Scott Tady column: A Sunday night concert series starts strong with the Clarks and the Pittsburgh Symphony on local TV.
by Scott Tady
A photo from Steve Hackett's new autobiography, "A Genesis in My Bed." |
Steve Hackett treats readers to tales from swinging London, exotic Brazil, soul-soothing Canada and a gritty New York that never sleeps.
Hackett's new autobiography, "A Genesis in My Bed," shares worldwide adventures told in an easygoing, conversational tone by one of progressive-rock's most acclaimed guitarists.
While he didn't find space in his book for any Pittsburgh stories, Hackett's memory quickly makes a local connection when asked about his visits here.
"Isn't that where the Syria Mosque was?" Hackett, the '70s era guitarist for art-rock band Genesis, said in a phone interview. "That was such a lovely building to play. I was saddened to hear it was torn down."
On what's now (sigh) a parking lot, the Syria Mosque stood regally in Pittsburgh's Oakland section when another of Hackett's bands, GTR, headlined there in 1986.
Though kindred spirits musically, Hackett and fellow GTR guitar ace Steve Howe (from Yes) had different approaches to recording -- Howe wanted to spend more time and money, according to Hackett -- making the project destined for a short life.
Hackett's book briefly addresses GTR and its surprise Top-40 hit "When the Heart Rules the Mind," as well as highlighting his prolific and well-received solo career.
Genesis geeks like me will sit spellbound mostly by Hackett's account of how a bunch of book-smart lads from the English countryside became a pioneering band that eventually filled stadiums.
Hackett joined Genesis in 1971, after placing an ad in British music mag Melody Maker seeking bandmates committed to the unconventional.
Prog-rock guitar ace Steve Hackett releases his autobiography on July 24. |
Over pints at a pub, a friend urged the nervous Hackett to audition for the somewhat established band, which had already released two albums but had responded to his ad. The next thing the Londoner knew, he was jamming and writing songs with Genesis in their rural abode.
Hackett's book speaks highly of his Genesis cohorts, describing singer Peter Gabriel as inquisitive, artsy and daring; keyboardist Tony Banks as a genius composer; and drummer-turned-singer Phil Collins as the comic relief and a ferocious performer whose concert drumming left his hands bloodied.
By 1972, as critical acclaim for Genesis grew, Gabriel was wearing his wife's dress and a fox's head on stage, as depicted on the band's epic "Foxtrot" album.
"He took preposterous risks onstage, and his thinking was often bizarre," Hackett said. "He didn't just perform the songs, he lived them. Pete had an actor's approach to a singer's performance and was a huge part of the band's rise to fame."
For the most part, Hackett got along with bassist Mike Rutherford, too, though he does blame the ego of the Mike + the Mechanics frontman for squeezing out mention of Hackett's solo career from a 2014 documentary about Genesis.
Discussing his decision to leave the band in 1977, two years after Gabriel had departed, Hackett said, "The truth is that even though I would've stayed longer if there had been more flexibility, I don't regret leaving Genesis. It was great to be a part of that incredible team, but I had to answer my inner muse. It was time to move on."
Rock historians credit Hackett's unique guitar tones for energizing Genesis, which he acknowledges in his book, while also admitting it was by design that the band's guitar and keyboard work sound seamlessly interchangeable on classic albums like "Selling England by the Pound" and "Nursery Crime." That sound took shape once Hackett convinced his mates to buy a Mellotron, a weighty, keyboard-like "beast," as he called it, which had been used earlier by King Crimson and the Moody Blues.
Hackett identifies Genesis' "Firth of Fifth" as the song with his most iconic guitar work.
I could go on with geeky details, but I don't want to bore you non-fans; nor do I want to spoil the experience for you true fans, who should grab a copy of "A Genesis in My Bed" once it comes out July 24.
The book's title comes from something a groupie once said, but the story isn't salacious. There's nothing overtly scandalous in it, and the author's British wit pops up in surprising moments.
Hackett granted me 30 minutes on the phone and was a true English gentlemen, as almost all his peers prove to be. Our chat spun off in a few tangents, like when he asked if I had ever seen a show at the Syria Mosque, and I mentioned a 1986 Emerson, Lake & Powell concert, and then for a few minutes he shared personal memories of those band members. Hackett said he almost launched a supergroup with that band's keyboardist Keith Emerson, plus Cream bassist Jack Bruce, in the 1980s. Instead, Emerson decided to reunite with Greg Lake and add new drummer Cozy Powell for a one-and-done studio album.
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